PhD position Relibability of thin-film silicon solar foil

The realization of sustainable and circular value chains for annual photovoltaic markets at a scale of multiple terawatts, sets new unprecedented societal and technical challenges expressed in new value-chain-metrics. The unique physical characteristics of lightweight and flexible thin-film silicon PV (LF-TFSiPV) technology makes this technology an excellent candidate for future circular markets. The new challenging value-chain-metrics are related to efficiency, costs, rel.iability, circularity, life cycle analyses, sustainable business models and human capita.

This PhD will carry out ressearch focused on flexible lab-scale solar cell and module based triple-junction configurations with conversion efficiencies beyond 15%.

The research in this PhD student is focussed on the reliability aspect of thin-film silicon PV devices on lab-scale and module level as well as the reliability of materials: encapsulation materials, adhesives, photovoltaic semiconductor films, TCOs and interconnection.

Research activities will include:

• dedicated performance and degradation analyses of thin-film silicon PV lab cells up to PV modules
• dedicated accelerated lifetime testing of modules, lab cells, polymers and adhesion materials.
• dedicated tests on mechanical resilience of solar foil concepts
• modelling and yield optimization of thin-film silicon Solar Foil in different applications and models.

The PhD will be part of a large research team at the PVMD group focused on LF-TFSiPV.

You will work as a PhD in an enthusiastic team of colleagues within the Photovoltaic Materials and Devices section. This section is part of the Electrical Sustainable Energy department of the EEMCS faculty. The Electrical Sustainable Energy Department provides expertise in each of these areas throughout the entire energy system chain. The department owns a large ESP Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment and large RTDS that is actively used for real time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection and wide area monitoring and protection.

The PVMD section has vacuum equipment in clean room for depositing thin layers and fabricating high efficiency silicon-based solar cells, opto-electrical characterization equipment, photovoltaic modules manufacturing unit, an outdoor testing facility and a photovoltaic laboratory. In the latter, practicals, courses and demonstrations are given to students. The technicians ensure that the students and PhD students have access to the necessary testing equipment. For more information about the section, please visit our website: pvmd.ewi.tudelft.nl.